Toilet tissue holder



1950 c. E. HARTLEY ETAL 2,528,055

' TOILET TISSUE HOLDER Filed Feb. 10, 1949 fl lllllllfi Z/ i Illlk 24 \s'a ans-R 26 an" i n Z8 30 an in;

$15. E V JNVENTOR.

EHARLESEHARTLEY HAR ULU WHAR TLEY BY f RNEY Patented Oct. 31, 1950 TOILET TISSUE HOLDER Charles E; Hartley, Bridgeport, and Harold W. Hartley, Trumbull, Conn.

Application February 10, 1949, Serial No. 75,678 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-552) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in toilet paper holders and has for an object the provision of a very practical toilet tissue roll holder onto which a roll of paper may be easily and quickly applied and from which the empty spool may be easily and quickly removed. w

A further object is to provide a toilet tissue roll holder having the characteristics indicated and which comprises a bracket structure rigidly mounted and including a fixed roll engaging finger having a free end over which an end of the roll of paper may be moved and having a swingable or turnable finger which may be pushed aside as the roll is moved into the bracket and then will snap back into position-entering the roll, such last finger being spring loaded,

Other objects and advantage of the invention will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view showing the toilet paper roll holder of the invention as when in use;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view taken as looking from the right in Fig. 1 and with the movable finger of the bracket shown by dotted lines in its shifted position;

Fig 3 is an exploded view showing the various elements of the movable finger;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale taken as along the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation and showing details of construction.

Referring in detail to the drawing, at I0 is generally indicated our improved toilet tissue holder and the same includes a somewhat U- shaped frame or bracket portion generally designated H and including side arms [2 and l3 and a connecting portion M. A mounting plate or the like I5 is rigidly secured to the mid portion of the connecting portion M by screws, although it will be understood that the plate may be secured in any other desired manner asby soldering, spot welding or the like. Plate l5 above and below the bracket connecting portion I4 is provided with openings or holesor perforations I! for the passage of securing screws or other means to be used in mounting the holder to a wall or other support.

U-shaped bracket H, in addition to the side arms l2 and I3 and connecting portion M, in cludes a pair of spaced substantially aligned opposite projecting roll supporting fingers l8 and i9 extending one from the inner end of each of said side arms. Of these, the finger I8 comprises an integral extension of the free end portion of the bracket arm I2. Here it is noted that this bracket ll may be formed of rod, although it is illustrated as comprising a length of tubing bent to provide the portion M, the arms [2 and I3 and the finger-like portion I8. Additionally, the entire bracket may be of metal or of plastic or there may be parts of each of such materials.

Arm l3 of the bracket does not have its free end portion laterally bent but stops as at 20. Then an anchoring means or plug 2! is entered into the arm and may have a forced fit therein or is otherwise rigidly secured therein and this plug through its outer end is kerfed' or slotted as at 22. A COll'SPlillg 23 has its flat inner end or eye portion 24 received in the slot 22. Thereafter an elbow-like portion 25, including the finger l9 as a part thereof, has a reduced diameter end portion 26 entered through the open free end of the arm l3. Portion 26 is of a diameter to have a smooth bearing within the free end portion of the arm 13 and through its'inner end has a kerf or slot 21 receiving the eye 28 at the opposite end of the spring 23.

The elbow-like element '25 is adapted to have limited turning movement relative to the bracket II and specificallywith respect to the arm l3 of said bracket. For the purpose of limiting the turning movement of the portion 26 of the element in the bracket arm and also fOr securing the element to the bracket arm, the latter toward its free end and through its rear and inner sides is provided with an arcuate circumferentially extending slot 29 extending for approximately ninetydegrees. A screw or pin'3l] passes through this slot 20 and is threaded into or other, wise made rigid with the portion 26 of the element 25. This screw 30 is of a diameter to move in the direction of the length of the slot and has only clearance movement insofar as the diameter of the screw relates to the width of the slot. 7

When assembling the present holder, the plug 25 is positioned in the arm 53 and then the spring 23 isdropped through the open free end of the arm and the eye- 24 0f the spring located in the to prevent the spring 23 moving out of the bracketarm.

After the parts are assembled the normal location of the screw 38 is at the-bottom or. rearmost portion of the slot 29 with the finger 19 in opposedrelation and substantially in alignment with the finger H3. The spring 23 serves to maintain the element 25 normally in the describedposition. This is true since the spring is preloaded by turning the element 25 on its portion 28 as a center after the elementis'coupledwith the spring to tension the latter, and then insertingthe screw 30.

In connection with this spring, it is noted that its,body portion is of substantially the internal diameter of the arm'l3. This facilitates locating of the eye Z lin the" slot-22' since the-spring is necessarily substantially longitudinally centered with thearm" l3 and the plug 2|. Additionally, during use'ofthe'device as will hereinafter be described, the spring being of the diameter stated with respectto the internal diameter of the arm l3,,it will be clear there is very'little play between these; parts and on loading and release of the spring thesamegcannot move out of proper alignment or proper position in the arm 13.

When a roll -32 of-paper'isto be mounted on the holder 1 the roll is grasped in one hand and held at a slight angle so as to enter its hollow central portion over the finger 85 Then-the other'end portion or the roll is moved upwardly, the top side of the roll engaging finger l9. As this movement of the rolls continued, the finger layields and swings upwardly turning I about the longitudinal axis of the arm-Hand as the finger l9.lreaches asubstantially vertical position, as suggested in Fig. 2, the adjacent end of the roll moves past the finger until'the opening; 33 of the usual hollow core 34 of the roll comes opposite the finger when the spring 23' havingbeen further loaded by the turningoi the finger in the 'manner' described returns the finger to itsnormal position again disposing the screw 38 against the bottom or rear- Wa-rdmost portion or end of the slot 25.

To remove an empty spool'or core 34 from-the bracket or holder-18, the operator merely swings one end of this spool or core'upwardly against the finger ii! whereupon the entire element yieldsagainst-urging'of the spring 23 until that end of the spool or core is removed from the finger and then by an outward lateral-movement the opposite end of the core or spool is removed from the finger l8.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. A toiletpaper holder comprising a bracket including a connectin portion and side arms, a pair of spaced oppositely extending substantially aligned roll supporting fingers extending one from the inner end of each-of said side arms, one ofsaid-armshollow through its inner end, means inwardly of the inner endofsaid arm and having an, open ended, slot facing toward the free end of saidarm, a coil spring within said arm and having a fiat end portion in said slot whereby the spring is nnhm-ed a ainst bodily rotation relative to the arm, the finger for said hollow bracket arm comprising an arm of an elbow-like element, said element having its other arm entered into the inner end portion of said bracket arm for turning movement therein about its own axis, said bracket arm having a slot therethrough and extending circumferentially thereof, a pin rigid with the mentioned, arm of said, element and extending intosaid slotwhereby turning ofsaid element relative to the bracket arm is limited by engagement of said pin with an end of said slot, said other arm of said element having an open ended slot therein facing through its free end, said element having. anormal position wherein said pin is against an end of said slot and its finger forming arm is substantially aligned With the other finger of saidholder, and said coil spring having itsother end portion flat and received in the kerf or slot in the said other arm of said element whereby turning of said element on thev axispf its mentioned-arm tensions said-spring and said spring will return the element to its normal position when turned-therefrom and released;

2, A-toilet paper holder comprising a bracket including'a connecting portion and side arms,- a pair of spaced oppositely extending substantially aligned roll supporting fingers extending one from the inner-end of each of said side arms, one of said arms-hollow through its inner end, a coil spring within said arm, means securing the inner end of said spring against turning movement insaid arm, thefinger for said hollow bracket arm comprisingan arm of an elbow-like element, said element having its other arm entered into the inner-end portion of said bracket arm for :turning movement therein about its own axis, said bracket arm having a slot therethrough' and extending circumferentially thereof, a pin rigid with thementioned arm-of said element and extending into said 'Islotwhereby turning of said element relative to the bracket arm is-limited by engagementof saidpin with an end of said slot; said element having a normal positionwherein said pin is against anend of said slot and its finger forming arm is substantially aligned with the other finger of said holder, and said coil: springsanchored at its other endto said other arm of said element whereby turning of said elementon the axis of its mentioned other arm tensions said spring-and saidspring will return the element to its normal position when turned. therefrom and released;

3. A holderfor-afroll of paper and the like comprising a generally U-shaped bracket consisting of a bent single length oftubular stock including a connecting portion and substantially parallel side armsLafinger comprising the bent free end portion of one oftsaid arms and extending substantially parallel with said connecting portiorilbut :in vspaced: relation to the: latter, a second'fingergmounted 'on the free end portion of the otherof said arms and including aportion in opposed substantially'aligned relation with the first mentionedfi-nger, means comprising a rightangularlyirelated integral extension of the second mentioned finger telescoping with the free end portion of the other ofsaidarms and'rotatable relativezthereto about the longitudinal axis. thereof 1 whereby the :second mentioned finger is mounted .for turningmovement on said other arm about an axis. substantially coincident with that of the longitudinal axis of said other arm, cooperating means between: the: second: men-1 tionedfingerand said other armforlimi'tingsuch turning. movement of the second finger, and

spring means resisting such movement and adapted to return such second finger to its normal position when moved therefrom and released.

'4. A holder for a roll of paper and the like comprising a bracket including a connecting por-- tion and side arms, a pair of spaced oppositely extending substantially aligned roll supporting fingers extending one from the inner end of each of said side arms, one of said arms hollow through its inner end, means inwardly of the inner end of said arm and having an open ended slot facing toward the free end of said arm, a coil spring within said arm and having a fiat end portion in said slot whereby the spring is anchored against bodily rotation relative to the arm, the finger for said hollow bracket arm comprising an arm of an elbow-like element, said element having its other arm entered into the inner end portion of said bracket arm for turning movement therein about its own axis, a pin and slot connection comprising a circumferentiall extending slot and a radially extending pin between said bracket arm and the mentioned arm of said element withv said pin extending into said slot whereby turning of said element relative to the bracket arm is limited by engagement of said pin and one end of said slot, said other arm of said element having an open ended slot therein facing through its free end, said element having a normal position wherein said pin is against an end of said circumferentially extending slot and its fingenforming arm is substantially aligned with the other finger of said holder, and said coil spring having its other end portion fiat and received in the kerf or slot in the said other arm of said element whereby turning of said element on the axis of its mentioned arm tensions said spring and said spring will return the element to its normal position when turned therefrom and released.

5. A holder for a roll of paper and the like comprising a bracket including a connecting portion and side arms, a pair of spaced oppositely extending substantially aligned roll supporting fingers extending one from the inner end of each of said side arms, one of said arms hollow through its inner end, a coil spring within said arm, means securing the inner end of said spring against turning movement in said arm, the finger for said hollow bracket arm comprising an arm of an elbow-like element, said element having its other arm entered into the inner end portion of said bracket arm for turning movement therein about its own axis, a pin and slot connection comprising a circumferentially extending slot and a radially extending pin between said bracket arm and the mentioned arm of said ele- 6 ment with said pin extending into said slot whereby turning of said element relative to the bracket arm is limited by engagement of said pin and one end of said slot, said element having a normal position wherein said pin is against an end of said circumferentially extending slot and its finger forming arm is substantially aligned with the other finger of said holder, and said coil spring anchored at its other end to said other arm of said element whereby turning of said element on the axis of its mentioned other arm tensions said spring and said spring will return the element to its normal position when turned therefrom and released.

6. A holder for a roll of paper and the like comprising a connecting portion and a pair of substantially parallel side arms extending from said connecting portion, a finger supported on the inner end portion of one of said arms and extending substantially parallel with said connecting portion but in spaced relation to the latter, a second finger supported by the other of said arms and including a portion in opposed substantially aligned relation with the first mentioned finger, means comprising a right angularl related integral extension of the second mentioned finger telescoping with the inner end portion of the other of said arms and rotatable relative thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof whereby the second mentioned finger is mounted for turning movement on said other arm about an axis substantially coincident With that of the longitudinal axis of said other arm, a pin and slot connection comprising a circumferentialiy extending slot and a radially extending pin between said bracket arm and the mentioned arm of said element with said pin extending into said slot whereby turning of said element relative to the bracket arm is limited by engagement of said pin and one end of said slot, and a spring resisting such turning movement of said element and adapted to return the same to its normal position with said pin and one end of said slot in engagement when the element is moved therefrom and released.

CHARLES E. HARTLEY. HAROLD WM. HARTLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 497,005 Jerome May 9, 1893 1,665,739 Hoegger Apr. 10, 1928 1,913,363 Allen June 13, 1933 

